Michael Sam, who has three preseason sacks as a rookie defensive end with the St. Louis Rams, was praised for his performance Wednesday by former NFL coach and now broadcaster Tony Dungy.

Sam, a seventh-round pick from Missouri, was the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL. Earlier this summer, Dungy drew criticism – and issued a clarifying statement – last month after an interview was published in which he said he wouldn't have drafted Sam because of the "distraction" potential.

"From what I've seen, he's played very well in the preseason, got after the quarterback and rushed the passer, and that's what they got him for. And it looks like he's doing his job really well," Dungy said Wednesday on a teleconference hosted by NBC Sports to promote its Sunday "Football Night in America" pre-game show.

Dungy, a Super Bowl winner when he coached the Indianapolis Colts, told the Tampa Tribune in a report published in July that he wouldn't have drafted Sam because it would have been a "distraction."

A day later, Dungy issued a statement clarifying his remarks. He said that at the time he was interviewed by the Tampa paper earlier this year (weeks before the story was published) plans were in the works for an Oprah Winfrey Network reality TV show to follow Sam's season. That show did not materialize.

Dungy's clarifying statement in July said: "I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does. I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not. I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.''

He added in that statement, "I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction. Unfortunately we are all seeing this play out now, and I feel badly that my remarks played a role in the distraction."

During Wednesday's teleconference, Dungy did not elaborate on the "distraction" matter.

"Well I think … the whole thing has been played out and I think it's been talked about," he said. "It's something that transpired probably three or four months ago now, and I don't know that I need to into that any farther."

"Well I think … the whole thing has been played out and I think it's been talked about. It's something that transpired probably three or four months ago now, and I don't know that I need to into that any farther."